[lin_video src=http://eplayer.clipsyndicate.com/embed/player.js?aspect_ratio=16×9&auto_next=1&auto_start=0&div_id=videoplayer-1369696832&height=480&page_count=5&pf_id=9624&show_title=1&va_id=4073778&width=640&windows=2 service=syndicaster width=640 height=480 div_id=videoplayer-1369696832 type=script]BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) – After tours with the United States Marine Corp in Afghanistan and Iraq, two Labrador Retrievers, have now found a home with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit.

4-year-old Dash and 6-year-old Tori were picked up from North Carolina but sheriff’s deputies on May 6th. The K9’s are trained to detect explosives.

Due to cutbacks by the company contracted to train dogs like Tori and Dash, many of the dogs were retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in August of 2012. The dogs were made available to law enforcement agencies across the U.S. free of charge.

The new additions to the K9 unit will be assigned to school resource deputies and used to help protect students in the Jefferson County School System.

In addition to the explosive detection training they already have, the dogs will also be trained to locate firearms and ammunition inside schools.

Deputy Kerry Morgan says the K9’s will be a great tool.

“It’s just like having a drug dog in schools, we use those drug dogs as a deterrent to keep kids from bringing drugs to schools and we’re hoping this will do the same for firearms,” said Morgan.

Unlike drug dogs, they are trained to work independent from their handler. They respond to a series of hand signals and whistles.